Reciprocating Biaser Sorption System for Compact Fluid Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current adsorption systems for fluid separation and purification are limited by large size, mechanical complexity, high energy consumption, and inefficiency, particularly in applications requiring compact, lightweight, and energy-efficient solutions for mobile and small-scale use, such as medical oxygen generation and industrial gas separation.
Innovation Solution
The development of a sorption system utilizing a reciprocating biaser for alternating pressure and thermal management, which minimizes sorbent quantity, reduces mechanical components, and recovers desorption energy, enabling continuous operation with reduced cycle times and enhanced energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If vessel size and sorbent mass are increased to increase material handling capacity, then adsorption capacity increases, but device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the sorption process into multiple vessels operating in parallel cycles. Each vessel contains a portion of the total sorbent mass, allowing the system to achieve high overall capacity while keeping individual vessel sizes compact. The segmentation enables continuous operation through cyclic switching between adsorption and desorption phases across multiple vessels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic cyclic operation where vessels alternate between adsorption and desorption phases. This periodic action allows the same sorbent mass to be reused multiple times, effectively increasing the material handling capacity without requiring proportionally larger vessel sizes. The cyclic switching is achieved through automated valve control.
2Productivity
If cycle time is decreased to increase productivity, then adsorption sites per unit time increase, but mechanical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates automated control mechanisms that manage the cyclic switching between vessels without requiring complex manual intervention. The self-service aspect is achieved through programmable logic that automatically sequences the adsorption-desorption cycles, reducing the operational complexity despite high cycling frequencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: directing feed streams to different vessels, routing product streams, and managing purge flows. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of separate components needed, simplifying the system despite the complex cyclic operation requirements.
3Speed
If sorbent particle size is decreased to increase diffusion rate, then cycle rate increases, but co-adsorption of unwanted molecules increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs different sorbent materials with tailored properties in different vessels or at different stages of the process. By optimizing the local sorbent characteristics for specific separation requirements, the system achieves high selectivity even with smaller particle sizes that enable faster diffusion rates.
4Quantity of substance
If operating pressure is increased to increase adsorption capacity per unit volume, then capacity increases, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers the expansion energy from the desorption phase and uses it to assist with compression during the adsorption phase. This energy recovery approach converts the previously wasted expansion energy into a useful input, reducing the net compression energy required while maintaining high operating pressures for increased capacity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach results in a compact, energy-efficient system that reduces material and energy consumption, allowing for scalable, portable, and efficient separation and purification of fluid mixtures, particularly suitable for medical oxygen generation and industrial gas applications.
Implementation Method 1
increasing the pressure on the incoming fluid mixture in the first chamber and sorbing at least a portion of the first component in the fluid mixture onto the first sorbent
Implementation Method 2
decreasing the pressure on the fluid mixture in the first chamber and desorbing the sorbed first component from the first sorbent
Implementation Method 3
increasing the pressure on the incoming fluid mixture
Implementation Method 4
decreasing the pressure on the fluid mixture in the first chamber
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, devices, and systems, and devices for carrying out sorption (adsorption and absorption) for separating and/or purifying fluid mixtures are disclosed. Medical oxygen generators, dehumidifying units, sorptive heat pumps, ozone generators and Peltier devices are also disclosed. The sorption methods involve pressure swing operation of at least two sorption units. Energy from the desorbing and decompressing fluid is substantially recovered and used within the system.